Kurt Warner's Agent Confirms He Will Be Back Next Season

Kurt Warner had a bit of a renaissance in 2008, taking a team that's used to hanging out in the gutter all the way to the Super Bowl, before coming up justthisshort in lifting the Cardinals to their first title.

Yet despite his successes, it was rumored that Warner might retire this offseason. But apparently Warner isn't going down that road. According to his agent Mark Bartelstein, Warner, 37, will be in shoulder pads next season.

"He's decided he's going to play," Bartelstein said. "He's made up his mind. He wants to play and he always wanted to play."

Warner made it seem like he could be leaning towards retirement following the loss to the Steelers, saying he'd listen to what God had to say about his future and go from there. Well, apparently, God wants to see Kurt score a few more touchdowns before hanging up his cleats.

Now the question is where Warner will go. Free agency opens February 27 and if the Cardinals and Warner don't hammer out a deal, then he could be packing his stuff and throwing passes in another city.

"We're not going to fool anybody," Bartelstein said. "He'd like to stay in Arizona. That would be his first choice. But he owes it to himself and his family to have an open mind. If we can get a deal done with the Cardinals, great. If not, then obviously you've got to look at free agency."

This season marked the highest quarterback rating that Warner has had since 2001, the season he won his second NFL MVP award. Along with that, it was the third time Kurt has taken a team to the Super Bowl. With the small amount of capable quarterbacks in the league right now, if Arizona doesn't want him, it's certain that a flurry of teams will.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

2-20-2009 @ 4:59PM

jffstrnd said...

GO Kurt!!! The Vikings need you for a Super Bowl Run!!!

2-20-2009 @ 5:23PM

Adam said...

Yes, go to the Vikings. I don't really care about Warner, but Peterson is too good to wallow on a team that's one position away from being championship caliber. If the Vikes get Warner and pick up a good WR, they'd be hard to beat.

2-20-2009 @ 5:28PM

waterlillies10 said...

good news for the cardinals,hopefully he stays with arizona, after torching th so called no.1 defense for 377 yards. the cardinals could be back in the superbowl again. wway to go kurt classy person

2-20-2009 @ 5:31PM

anthonysofly420 said...

cardinals and vikings both suck no matter who they get or do they will always suck

2-20-2009 @ 5:42PM

Buzz Cisler said...

"anthonysofly420" Now I know what happened to the village idiot. It lives in the body of "sofly420!" What a no-nothing, who just likes to shoot his mouth off for the hell of it! Must be a Raiders fan.

2-20-2009 @ 8:03PM

piper1 said...

I hope Warner stays in AZ, but what about him and Q going to KC. Warner throwing to Anquan, Tony Gonz, Dwayne Bowe, Rook Mark Bradley. That would be crazy in that soft division. LJ might be happy and productive and I think they have a good draft choice. Not to mention the new head coach is warners old O coordinator too.

2-20-2009 @ 10:36PM

sliksvelte said...

jffstrnd - if the Cardinals don't re-sign him, I think you are right. The Vikings are a natural fit. They still need another WR target up there - maybe Houshmanazadeh - but adding Warner to the mix with Peterson could be a really good move for the Vikes. I'd be excited to see that

2-20-2009 @ 11:55PM

fish said...

Don't know why everyone's saying Kansas City for Warner. Uh, hello, Tyler Thigpen, first QB in like the history of Kansas City to throw more TDs than INTs when his top receiver was his tight end! And I think he might have had more rushing yards than any other QB this year. I think Thigpen is steady, Huard and Croyle are solid backups, and the team needs to focus other places.

2-21-2009 @ 2:13AM

Bob said...

Personally, I'm relying on Warner's honor--he said before it's either Arizona or retirement. Unless his agent has somehow managed a "Rosenhaus" mind-job on him, I don't see Kurt going to another team for the money. He started something almost magical (corny, but it fits) with this team, and I would love to see them keep the momentum going. Give him a two-year contract for top-ten pay, and I'll bet he stays put so he can finish his great career there.

2-22-2009 @ 5:45PM

Ray said...

Kurt is the man in taking a team with average talent to the Super Bowl. If the Cards don't sign him then they will go back to never never land in the NFL and it will be anothe 60 or more years till they get back to the Super Bowl.